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2019 GP Patient Survey

More than two million people are being sent an invite to take part in the GP Patient Survey and the NHS is encouraging every invitee to share their experiences of using services at the GP Practice they are registered with.

The survey provides detailed information about the range of ways people interact with Primary Care staff and how good that experience is. It plays a key role in understanding what’s working and what needs to improve. The survey invites a sample of people aged 16 and over from over 7000 Practices across England to take part. They can complete it – by post or online – until the end of March 2019 and there is a range of options to make it more inclusive for people who need support to help them take part.

It is also a key source of information for understanding the impact of recent changes introduced in Primary Care, such as extended opening hours and other initiatives, which were carried out in response to what patients said in previous years’ surveys.

Those who are randomly selected to take part will receive a letter over the next few weeks, along with a questionnaire. Their information will be handled securely and no-one will be identified when the findings are published.

Olivia Falgayrac-Jones, Director of Commissioning at NHS England said “If you get a survey in January, please take part as it provides vital information to help improve local services and inform national decisions. You can help by encouraging other people you know to complete it, if they’re invited. It is important for GP Practices and for the wider NHS to find out what is working well and what needs improvement, so we can ensure that services keep getting better and are meeting the needs of patients.”

The questionnaire asks not just about the care provided by GPs, but also about seeing other healthcare professionals such as on-site Pharmacists, mental health specialists and Practice Nurses. It aims to find out more about people’s experiences of using online services, telephone services and face-to-face appointments. Finally, it also looks at how much support people get with managing long-term conditions and medication.

Patients who are not invited to take part in this year’s survey can still provide useful feedback to their GP Practice by filling in a Friends and Family Test (FFT) form at their Practice any time. It is open to everyone, and every practice is involved. More than 1.2 million pieces of feedback on NHS-funded services are given this way every month and they help to continuously improve and take the pulse of healthcare across England, with 9 in 10 patients who give feedback rating their experience positively.

Flu Season

Please do not come into the surgery if you are suffering with symptoms of flu. If you are concerned, please contact Reception who will arrange for a telephone consultation with a Nurse Practitioner or GP, or for further information please visit the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/

If you are aged 65 and over, have a long term medical condition such as chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease, diabetes, a weakened immune system, are morbidly obese, are a carer or are pregnant then please book your free flu jab.

Please speak to Reception to book an appointment.

NHS England has advised GP Practices that patients aged 65 and over will receive a different vaccine to patients under the age of 65 this year. This reflects current Public Health England advice.

The Adjuvanted Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (aTIV) is the most effective vaccine currently available for patients over the age of 65. Adjuvants are substances which help to strengthen and lengthen the immune response to the vaccine. This vaccine is being offered because it has been shown to work better in older adults. The Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV) will continue to be offered to patients under the age of 65.

Due to this change across the whole of England, delivery of the vaccinations to general practice is spread over a longer period of time and therefore our clinics will be held slightly differently than in previous years. Our first Saturday clinic will be in early October with a further Saturday clinic in November.

Top tips to get the most out of your GP appointment

Is your issue urgent? Do you need to see a specific GP?

Is it important you are seen quickly or would you rather wait for an appointment with a particular GP? If you have a long-term illness would you benefit from seeing a GP who knows your history personally? Alternatively could you see the Nurse Practitioner or Practice Nurse? In many cases, another member of the clinical team could deal with your concern, so consider this as an alternative to making an appointment with a GP.

Many problems? See if you can book a double appointment

If you have a number of issues that you would like to discuss with your GP, ask at reception to see whether it is possible to book a double appointment to give you more time to talk them through.

Discuss important things first and stick to the point

Make sure you tell the doctor about the important things first and try to get to the point. Do not feel you have to justify being there or leave your main concern to the end.

Take notes to help you

Before you see your GP, be clear in your own mind what you want to say. Make a note of your symptoms, worries and any questions that you would like to ask.

Take a list of your medicines - prescribed or otherwise

Bring a list of any medication you are taking, including over-the-counter and/or alternative medicines, or anything prescribed after a hospital visit. This includes tablets, liquids or creams. Your GP needs to know about everything you are taking.

Not clear on the treatment plan? Ask again

Make sure you fully understand the next steps before you leave the room. If you don’t, then don’t be afraid of asking your GP to go through the plan again.

Ask who to contact if you have any more questions

You may think of questions that you would like to ask after your appointment. Find out who you can contact to ask questions, as well as any support groups that can provide reliable information.

If you need support, take a relative, carer or friend

If you feel your situation needs it, take a relative or friend for support. They can help you understand or explain.

Unhappy?Ask to see another GP

If you’re not happy, you can ask to see another GP in the Practice. You can also change GP Practices, but you should as a first step, always discuss your concerns with a practice member of staff.

You can always ask for help or advice from the Reception Team and they will direct you to the most appropriate service.

Self Care

GP Patient Survey 2018

The annual GP Patient Survey asks residents about their opinion on topics including the ease of making appointments, waiting times, the quality of care given, practice opening times and out of hours services.

Walking for Health

Keith Harrison, the Health and Wellbeing Officer for North Dorset GP Practices attended the Walking for Health Christmas party luncheon on Saturday 8th December at the Royal Chase Hotel in Shaftesbury along with approximately 100 people. This was arranged by the volunteers from Gillingham and Shaftesbury Walking for Health groups. They held a raffle and raised £275 for the youth clubs in Gillingham and Shaftesbury.

What an amazing job they do, running numerous walks all for free. All our welcome and they cater for all levels of fitness. No need to book, you can just turn up. Sensible shoes and waterproofs are suggested for this time of year and well behaved dogs are most welcome too.

The North Dorset Walking For Health Scheme was established in late 2017 to create opportunities for people to benefit from group walking. There is a Monday afternoon walk starting at The Barn Surgery and a Tuesday afternoon walk starting at Peacemarsh Surgery. All walks are free. For further information, please click on the following link, take a look at their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/northdorsethealthwalks/ or see the attached leaflet

Could you be a volunteer Health Walk Leader?

Walking is a great way to stay healthy, both physically and mentally and lots of evidence suggests that regular walking with a group adds social benefits too. A free one-day training course for volunteer Walk Leaders will take place in Sherborne on Monday 22nd October. No prior experience is required, just lots of enthusiasm and an interest in supporting others to stay healthy. The North Dorset Walking For Health scheme has trained over 50 volunteers who now provide weekly Health Walks in Sturminster, Blandford, Shillingstone, Gillingham, Shaftesbury and Sherborne. These are opportunities for those who want to walk a short distance of 1-2 miles at a steady pace in a friendly group. All walks are free and local GP practices are supporting the scheme as they are keen to promote the health benefits associated with regular physical activity.

Self-Management Health Coaching

The surgery now has a specialist Health Coach who is able to give more time and support for any of our patients with an on-going health condition or who is a carer:

Coaching not Counselling

For knowledge, confidence and skills to manage health conditions and the impact on day to day life

18 years +

45 minute appointments on a Wednesday at The Barn Surgery

For further information, please speak to Reception or your GP.

GPs can refer patients to this service or you can also self-refer by booking an appointment with Reception, phoning the Health Coach Helpline on 0303 303 0153 or by emailing healthcoaching@helpandcare.org.uk

Coffee Companions

Coffee Companions was developed and launched a year ago in Gillingham with the help of Support the Elderly. This initiative has since grown out of concern about the growing number of people experiencing social isolation and/or loneliness and the aim is for it to be useful to whole communities in creating connections and companionship in an informal way. For further information, please visit their website www.coffeecompanions.co.uk

What is GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) ?

The GDPR is a new law that will become applicable from 25th May 2018 which supersedes the Data Protection Act. It determines how your personal data is processed and kept safe, and the legal rights that you have in relation to your own data. Its intention is to strengthen data protection for individuals across the European Union. It covers anywhere in the world in which data about EU citizens is processed and will apply even after the UK leaves the EU.

We will be contacting our patients during May 2018 that we hold a mobile number for via text to gain consent for us to continue using this as a method of contact. If you wish to continue to use our text messaging service, patients just need to reply START and your preferences will be recorded. To decline just reply STOP. Patients will receive the text weekly as a reminder if they do not respond. If we do not receive a response by the end of May 2018, when our campaign finishes, patients records will automatically be recorded as declined.

Please be aware that patients can change the preferences at any time, please just let Reception know.

Shingles Immunisation Programme

For further information regarding Shingles and the vaccination, please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/ Please click here to look at the Shingles Eligibility poster to check whether you are entitled to a shingles vaccination and if you wish to book an appointment, please contact Reception.

Support in Dorset

Please see the leaflet LiveWell Dorset for information regarding who LiveWell Dorset are, how they can help, the services they offer such as weight management, exercise and healthy living, and how to register.

For information on Living Well Courses, please click on the following link: Living Well Courses

Patient Records Online

In addition to being able to book appointments online and order your repeat prescriptions. You can now request to view your detailed coded medical information online too. Please ask at Reception to register for an online account to sign-up for this service.